Ski cases



L. T. WELSH Aug. 22, 1967 SKI CASES Filed Oct R m m ATTORNIZYQ 3,336,961 SKI CASES Leslie T. Welsh, Barrington, Ill., assignor to Welsh Sporting Goods Corp., Iowa Falls, Iowa, a corporation of Illinois Filed Oct. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 401,860 Claims. (Cl. 150-52) This invention relates to improvements in ski cases whereby the user may carry a pair of skis most conveniently and with the maximum of protection to the user and to the skis.

Heretofore, it has been customary to carry skis fastened to each other back to back and also to include ski poles in the same package, thus making a rather cumbersome bundle for the user and also rendering probable damage to the skis and poles by abrasion while the user moves by auto or ski lift.

Accordingly, a general object of the invention is to provide a convenient carrying case for receiving and enclosing a pair of ski poles. A more specific object is to provide a case in which the skis and the wheels of poles are enveloped in such a way that they are protected from rubbing against each other and the complete case with its contents can be conveniently carried by the user by means of a luggage strap.

One of the features of this improved ski case is the provision for the housing of the wheels of two poles, each separately from the other and from the skis.

Another feature of the improvement relates to the adjustable end of the case in which the rear end of the skis are located, whereby the length of the case may be regulated and is thus adapted to accommodate snugly the complete length of the skis.

Another object of the invention is to provide a case with pockets for the reception of the ski pole wheels and that the'openings to such pockets face downwardly toward the smaller end of the case and thus toward the rear end of skis adapted to be mounted in the case.

The above and additional features of the improved case of this invention are described and claimed in the following specification and claims when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which? FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the ski case showing the zipper in the closed position;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the case shown in FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the case shown in FIG. 1 with the case open for access to the interior, showing the cups for the pole wheels facing downwardly, and with the lower end partially folded on itself; and

FIG. 4 is a view of the lower portion of the case in which the middle portion is telescopically fitted into the extreme lower portion as preferred when the case is made of leather.

Referring in detail to the several figures of the drawing, the case has an elongated body with the upper end of the case indicated at 1 and this portion flares out on the opposite sides to accommodate the advance end of the skis where each ski turns away from the plane of the major portion of the ski. 2 indicates the middle section of the ski case which houses the pole wheels and anything to be carried in the case in addition to skis proper. 3 is the lower section of the case. These three sections 1, 2 and 3 are herein of a waterproof and flexible material made from cloth or canvas for example, and are sewed together in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. In FIG. 4, the case is shown as formed of leather, as will be described later in this specification.

The above mentioned ski case makes practicable the use of a handle 4 which renders convenient the carrying United States Patent 0 of the case. The handle 4 is preferably a leather strap having its forward end affixed to the case by means of a loop 4 mounted on the exterior of the case. The opposite end of the handle is secured to the case by a loop 4 as for example by rivets. Preferably the handle 4 has one end continued through an eyelet 4 and the extreme end is provided with a hook 5 having prongs 5 adapted to extend through openings in the handle 4.

The lower portion 3 of the case is adapted to be folded back on itself so as to adapt the case to the use of relatively short skis. On one face of the case, the surface is protected against undue wear by means of a supplementary wear strip 3 which is adapted to protect the outer surface of the lower portion when that portion is folded on itself.

The extreme lower end of the case is provided with a strap 6, whereby when the lower end is folded upwardly on itself, the strap may be passed around the lower portion and thus provide a snug fit for the portion which is folded up.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the casing is formed of several panel portions extending lengthwise of the casing and which portions are sewn together. A central panel section A is seen in FIG. 3 between second and third panel sections B and C. Access to the interior of the case is provided through a closeable seal extending along at least a portion of a medial line between the upper and lower ends of the case. Herein, the seam is in the form of a slidable fastener 7 having interengaging hook portions 7. The fastener extends between the panels B and C lengthwise of the middle section 2 from a point adjacent the lower end of the handle 4, upwardly over the top of the case and between the outwardly projecting extreme upper ends 1 and thence downwardly for a few inches on the rear face of the case. As is customary in the use of slidable fasteners, there are usually provided loops as at 8 on the front of the case and again at the rear, as shown in FIG. 2. Such loops assist the user in operating a slidable fastener.

To hold the ski poles in place, the interior of the case is formed with means, which herein is in the form of panels in the shape of cups or pockets. Referring to FIG. 3 which shows the case in open position, it will be observed that pockets or cups 9 are mounted on the panels B and C and are so positioned that the openings face downwardly and away from the upper end of the case. These pockets or cups 9 are adapted to receive ski pole wheels and the lower end of which poles are adapted to extend parallel to the skis per se and downward into the lower portion 3 of the case. These pockets 9 thus serve to house that is encompassing the wheels scratching and abrasion between the skis and and wheels. The points of the ski poles are also covered by the covers 9 to protect against damage to the case, objects in the case or to persons handling the case.

In FIG. 4, a fragmentary View is shown illustrating how, when the case is formed of leather, the middle section 2 extends telescopically into the slightly broader upper end of the lower section 3. Relatively small buckles and straps are provided as shown at 10 for the attachment of sections 2 and 3 when leather is used for the case.

In this specification, where reference is made to ski pole wheels, it is to be understood that this term includes so-called ski pole baskets.

I claim:

1. A ski case adapted to enclose a pair of skis completely from end to end, said case being of flexible substantially waterproof material, a first end. adapted to receive the forward ends of a pair of skis, and the opposite end being adapted to enclose the rear end of said pair and prevent the ski poles of skis, said opposite end being a long and relatively narrow portion and adapted to be folded on itself if the total length of the case is longer than the pair of skis to be enclosed, an opening for access to said case extending lengthwise of and along one wall of said case beginning at a location adjacent the upper end of said narrow portion and extending upwardly and midway over said first end and thence downwardly along the opposite side of said case, said case being adapted to house a pair of ski poles with their lower ends in the narrow portion of said case, and a pair of pockets on the interior of said case one at either side of a median line between the ends of said case for the reception of ski pole wheels.

2. A ski case adapted to enclose a pair of skis completely from end to end, said case being of flexible substantially waterproof material, a first end adapted to receive the forward ends of a pair of skis, and the opposite end being adapted to enclose the rear end of said pair of skis, said opposite end being a long and relatively narrow portion and adapted to be folded on itself if the total length of the case is longer than the pair of skis to be enclosed, an opening for access to said case extending lengthwise of and along one wall of said case beginning at a location adjacent the upper end of said narrow portion and extending upwardly and midway over said first end and thence downwardly along the opposite side of said case, said case being adapted to house a pair of ski poles with their lower ends in the narrow portion of said case, and a pair of pockets on the interior of said case one at either side of a median line between the ends of said case and secured to the wall of said case opposite to said opening for the reception of ski pole wheels, the opening of each pocket facing toward the narrow end of said case.

3. A ski case adapted to enclose a pair of skis completely from end to end, said case being of substantially waterproof material, a first end adapted to receive the forward ends of a pair of skis, and the opposite end being adapted to enclose the rear end of said pair of skis, said opposite end being a long and relatively narrow portion and adapted to be folded on itself if the total length of the case is longer than the pair of skis to be enclosed, an opening for access to said case extending lengthwise of and along one wall of said case beginning at a location adjacent the upper end of said narrow portion and extending upwardly and midway over said first end and thence downwardly along the opposite side of said case, said case being adapted to house a pair of ski poles with their lower ends in the narrow portion of said case, and a pair of pockets on the interior of said case one at either side of a median line between the ends of said case for the reception of ski pole wheels.

4. A ski case adapted to enclose a pair of skis completely from end to end, said case being of substantially waterproof material, a first end adapted to receive the forward ends of a pair of skis, and the opposite end being adapted to enclose the rear end of said pair of skis, said opposite end being a long and relatively narrow portion and adapted to be folded on itself if the total length of the case is longer than the pair of skis to be enclosed, an opening for access to said case extending lengthwise of and along one wall of said case beginning at a location adjacent the upper end of said narrow portion and extending upwardly and midway over said first end and thence downwardly along the opposite side of said case, said case being adapted to house a pair of ski poles with their lower ends in the narrow portion of said case, and a pair of pockets on the interior of said case one at either side of a median line between the ends of said case and secured to the wall of said case opposite to said opening for the reception of ski pole wheels, the opening of each pocket facing toward the narrow end of said case.

5. A ski case adapted to enclose a pair of skis and ski poles, comprising, the combination of, an elongated body, a first end on the body being adapted to enclose the forward ends of a pair of skis, an opposite end being adapted to enclose the rear end of the pair of skis, a closeable seam for affording access to the interior of the body, a portion of the body intermediate its ends adapted to enclose the wheels of ski poles, and a pair of cup shaped means fastened in the interior of the body at the intermediate portion on opposite sides of the closeable seam to encompass the wheels and pointed ends of the ski poles.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,217,357 2/1917 Sparrow -52 2,723,482 11/1955 Marten 150-52 3,239,114 3/1966 Norworthy 150--52 FOREIGN PATENTS 83,251 3/1954 Norway.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SKI CASE ADAPTED TO ENCLOSE A PAIR OF SKIS COMPLETELY FROM END TO END, SAID CASE BEING OF FLEXIBLE SUBSTANTIALLY WATERPROOF MATERIAL, A FIRST END ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE FORWARD ENDS OF A PAIR OF SKIS, AND THE OPPOSITE END BEING ADAPTED TO ENCLOSE THE REAR END OF SAID PAIR OF SKIS, SAID OPPOSITE END BEING A LONG AND RELATIVELY NARROW PORTION AND ADAPTED TO BE FOLDED ON ITSELF IF THE TOTAL LENGTH OF THE CASE IS LONGER THAN THE PAIR OF SKIS TO BE ENCLOSED, AN OPENING FOR ACCESS TO SAID CASE EXTENDING LENGTHWISE OF AND ALONG ONE WALL OF SAID CASE BEGINNING AT A LOCATION ADJACENT THE UPPER END OF SAID NARROW PORTION AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY AND MIDWAY OVER SAID FIRST END AND THENCE DOWNWARDLY ALONG THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID CASE, SAID CASE BEING ADAPTED TO HOUSE A PAIR OF SKI POLES WITH THEIR LOWER ENDS IN THE NARROW PORTION OF SAID CASE, AND A PAIR OF POCKETS ON THE INTERIOR OF SAID CASE ONE AT EITHER SIDE OF A MEDIAN LINE BETWEEN THE ENDS OF SAID CASE FOR THE RECEPTION OF SKI POLE WHEELS. 